Summer 2017’s Top Glamping Retreats

Forget tiny pop-up tents and stuffy sleeping bags, we're pitching a different kind of camping experience—one that lies comfortably at the crossroads of rustic and romantic. At these glamping retreats, backcountry scenery is best observed from the comfort of a kitted-out canvas tent, complete with amenities like pillow-top king beds, cozy wood stoves, and deep-soaking clawfoot tubs.

A Brooklyn-based writer and editor, Chelsea's work has appeared in Matador Network, The Huffington Post, the TripAdvisor blog, and more. When not planning her next trip, you'll usually find her drinking way too much iced coffee (always iced—she’s from New England) or bingeing a Netflix original series.

Dunton River Camp, Dolores, CO

Just over the San Juan Mountain range from Telluride, in Southwestern Colorado, lies a summer-only, all-inclusive tented retreat. At Dunton River Camp, eight bespoke glamping tents mingle with free range cattle and local fishermen on 500-acres of meadow and forest. The 640-square-foot accommodations are split between mountain (with views of El Diente peak and the Wilson Range) and river (just a stone’s throw from the West Fork of the Dolores River) tents, but both come with en-suite bathrooms (hello 6-foot soaking tubs and shower), a gas stove, WiFi, blowdryers, and two mountain bikes for exploring beyond the immediate terrain. Rates include all meals, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages (look for wine from local Sutcliffe Vineyards), and access to the sauna. At night, if you’re feeling social, enjoy a cocktail and toasty S’more by the resort’s communal fire pit

Zion Under Canvas, Zion National Park, UT

US National Park campgrounds usually aren’t anything to write home about, but Zion Under Canvas isn’t your typical utility-less RV park. With a handful of additional camps—Grand Canyon, Moab, Yellowstone, and Glacier— we’d say the Under Canvas brand knows a thing or two about glamorous camping. Their Zion iteration—which opens later this August—rests on 196 acres which border the national park, and when you’re not enjoying your rustic-chic digs (with a king bed, wood stove, private deck, AND flush toilet!), rock climbing, mountain biking, canyoneering, horseback riding, hot air ballooning are all options as you’ll certainly want to explore Utah’s dramatic desert.

Treebones Resort, Big Sur, CA

Despite the rough deal Big Sur’s Highway 1 was handed this winter, Treebones Resort maintains open via an alternative eastern route so you can still make good on your Cali glamping goals. The intimate resort includes a yurt village, tenting campsites, and the showstopping (at least in our eyes) autonomous tent. The solar-powered cocoon-like lodge is perched on the side of the property with its own deck and outdoor fireplace, while indoors more than 500-square-feet of blonde wood harbor a king size bed, gas fireplace, lounge chairs, and clawfoot tub.

Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, Halfmoon Bay, BC

Ask any avid camper and they'll tell you luxury isn’t something they come to expect—especially when kicking it in a tent. But venture out to the Sunshine Coast, and you’ll see that Rockwater Secret Cove’s tenthouse suites are far from your average experience. Tucked back from the resort’s 1500-foot wooden forest boardwalk, the adult-only suites are equipped with heated slate floors, hydro-therapy tubs, shoji-screened fireplaces, and pillow-top king beds. Ample time should also be spent on your private veranda; from admiring the Pacific Ocean vista to constellation hunting come nightfall, we’re sure you’ll find something to fill your time.

Sinya on Lone Man Creek, Wimberley, TX

Texas Hill Country probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think of safari-inspired experiences, but just 45-minutes southwest of Austin, Sinya sets up its tented camp on a ridge overlooking Lone Man Creek. Here, canvas lodgings are surprisingly luxe (think: goose down pillows, Turkish cotton towels, feather-cushioned sofas, and Tassimo coffee makers), but there’s also plenty of hiking, biking, creek swimming, and S’mores toasting to keep you occupied. JS tip: If you want to take a day trip, the Hamilton Pool Preserve is just a 45-minute drive north.

Sequoia High Sierra Camp, Sequoia National Park, CA

Full disclosure: you’ll want to pack light for your Sequoia High Sierra getaway, as the first step to any stay requires a one-mile hike in from the closest parking lot. Once you get that out of the way, we’re sure you’ll be pleased to drop your bags in one of 32 canvas tented cabins done up with artisan furnishings, cozy area rugs, bedside tables and lanterns, plush mattresses, and down feather pillows. Seeing as the camp is nestled in unsettled countryside that runs from Sequoia to Yosemite, there’s no lack of outdoor activities (or gargantuan Sequoia trees, believe it or not); just steps from your tent you’ll find glacially carved lakes, scenic hiking trails, and wildflower meadows ready for photographing. The 2017 season starts June 9th, so get your reservations in stat.

Mt. Hood Tiny House Village, Welches, Oregon

Tiny houses took the US by storm in the mid-aughts with two major selling points: affordability and ecological friendliness. Behind the movement was Jay Shafer—the man whose Tumbleweed Tiny House Company would release the first micro-home plans and build those comprising Mt. Hood Village. Less than an hour outside Portland, right near Mt. Hood National Forest, the community is a collection of 175 to 260-square-foot rentable cottages. Each is similarly designed, crafted from cedar plank siding, with a full bathroom, kitchen, and loft. Take your pick of masculine, modern, minimalist, bohemian and more between Atticus, Lincoln, Zoe, Savannah, and Scarlett—no matter which you choose, you’ll find budget-friendly rates starting at just $129.